🔗 Share this article

Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing struggles are seen as a "serious issue" and the football regulator is aiming to acquire authority to look into club affairs in similar circumstances, its new chair the regulator has announced.

In a wide-ranging interview, the regulator, who was appointed on Monday, voiced concern towards supporters of the Owls.

Kogan met with four supporter groups representing the South Yorkshire club in recent days.

The Championship side have been facing challenges both on and off the pitch in this season, with the club delaying salary disbursements on five separate occasions, including in last month.

"Obviously the club has become a serious issue for football authorities and a substantial concern for English football," the regulator explained.

"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the great brands for football in England and in recent days we have met supporters' organizations.

"We are seeking authority... which will permit us to bring Sheffield Wednesday - and other clubs referred to us if they require examination and acted upon."

Monetary Issues and Proprietorship Status

Wednesday's embattled owner the Thai businessman stated during the off-season he would be willing to sell up at the stadium, but he has failed to complete a sale with potential new owners.

Delayed salary payments on time in spring months caused limitations by the English Football League (EFL) in summer, stopping Wednesday from completing any recruitment activities for the subsequent signing windows, although those limitations were removed in the end of the transfer window.

Official's Viewpoint

The chairman stated: "The position was created for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday, Bury or any football club where supporters are loyal to a local institution that has represented their community in many cases.

"I have absolute sympathy for Sheffield Wednesday, as I do for each organization that since 1992 have gone to the wall, or been close to going to the wall, for reasons that have nothing to do with the supporters."

Questioned about whether the oversight body could require an proprietor to divest a club if they are judged inappropriate, the regulator answered: "When asking whether 'would we intervene in the final instance?', the answer is once we gather the evidence and comprehend the circumstances, we will."

But the regulator clarified that requiring chairmen to relinquish clubs would be considered the final option and the authority would rather to collaborate with owners.

"The last thing what we want to do is start getting involved with an particular organization, an individual owner, without having the opportunity to collaborate with that proprietor to address the issues that the club's facing and the chairman's encountering," Kogan said.

"However, realistically, when you review the record of the game, over the recent generations there have been certain proprietors, few in number, but some who have been irresponsible in the way which they've been managing their clubs and ultimately don't wish to take responsibility for the coming years."

'If we get it wrong, extraordinary progress vanishes'

Kogan met with representatives from 110 clubs to detail the scope of the authority recently and insisted it was a "forward-thinking discussion" with a "significant participation" from the grassroots to elite level.

"It's a job that's actually really important, because should mistakes occur, if the world of football gets it wrong, the significant advances achieved could disappear rapidly," the chairman stated.

"And that's what nobody wants in the realm of domestic football is a huge success story - we need to continue the progress.

"Substantial financial resources coming into football and has been invested for the last 20 or 25 years, because there are no assurances it will keep flowing into the sport, which is among the factors explaining I think we have to take a really clear view on challenges and obviously, of the immediate future."

Premier League Concerns

The Premier League opposed the establishment of an oversight body because of apprehensions regarding adverse consequences on the elite division's competitive balance, but Kogan said: "I completely endorse the success and growth as an commercial operation of the elite league.

"I of all people understand the concern of undermining the division as a high-quality offering of the nation. But at the same time, if you engage with division representatives after today's meeting, they would have had a substantial amount of confidence -and, in fact, they have been advising us privately they have a significant confidence."

Partisan Associations

The chairman continues to confront a "full inquiry" by the official appointments authority after he acknowledged providing funds to the Labour Party in recent years.

The 68-year-old contributed funds to Culture Secretary the politician's campaign, along with that of the government leader.

"I've been completely open about my former ideological connection [with Labour], and that political affiliation came to an end the day the select committee approved my appointment," Kogan said.

"I am presently disconnected from any form of political activity."